Blog

Carry on Luggage: Garment Bag

October 18, 2020 By In Bags No Comments

These Italian made bags debuted in Fall 1986 and had an issue devoted to them by name, the Fall 1986 Update “Carry On!” catalogue. They replaced the Italian made Linea Viaggio line.

“To create our new luggage, we went to Italy, where we found our fabric–tightly woven, water-repellent Belgian linen–at the factory that’s used it for 40 years to make bags for the Italian army. To ensure that our cowhide trim would reflect years and miles with an honest patina, we opted for pure and simple tanning with water and tannin. And we finished each piece with real brass hardware. The results surpassed even our stiff criteria. But would they please as discerning a critic and traveler as Paul Therous? We shipped off a set and awaited his dispatch.”

Spoiler alert: Theroux was a fan.

In Spring 1987 the Garment Bag was replaced by the Weekender.

Carry On: Hanging Garment Bag

Photos from October 2020 Auction

About The Author

Robyn Adams
Robyn’s fascination with Banana Republic began in 1984 when her Alaskan adventurer father began buying their clothing and giving her their catalogs. She loved the clothes, and as an artist, she was drawn to the illustrations. Robyn went on to study illustration at an art college in Banana Republic’s hometown of San Francisco, CA, and she worked for years as a background artist for animation. She is now based in Oakland, CA and works as a graphic designer and illustrator. She has been collecting and archiving at Abandoned Republic since 2011.